Today while driving around I noticed a vehicle with one of those window decals that advertise a business. In this case, the decal touted some sort of "Eco-Friendly Green Consulting" firm. Thing is, the decal was affixed to the window of a GMC Yukon... one of the biggest fuel-guzzling behemoths on the market. (And no, it wasn't a hybrid... I checked.)
Yeah. I think I'll pass...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Unimpressed.
I was watching the WCMU-controlled WFUM signal last night to watch the State of the Union coverage.
Except it wasn't on.
They were airing a pledge program instead. Not only that, but the pledge program was being aired in "postage stamp" format. (For those of you with actual lives, this means the video was a small picture in the middle of the screen with a large black border around it.) From a technical standpoint, this is inexcusable. The digital conversion took place nearly a year ago and these formatting issues should have been dealt with long ago.
There have been some who have feared the WCMU acquisition of WFUM was motivated less by a sense of wanting to serve the Flint community than by a desire to "carpetbag" the larger Flint audience in order to get as much money out of it as possible. What I saw last night, combined with reports I've heard that the only additional staff WCMU is planning to hire will be underwriting salespeople for the Flint market does little to calm those fears.
If WCMU wanted to impress the Flint community, they should have aired the State of the Union address live and in full HD.
But airing a technically substandard pledge show instead? I'm unimpressed.
Except it wasn't on.
They were airing a pledge program instead. Not only that, but the pledge program was being aired in "postage stamp" format. (For those of you with actual lives, this means the video was a small picture in the middle of the screen with a large black border around it.) From a technical standpoint, this is inexcusable. The digital conversion took place nearly a year ago and these formatting issues should have been dealt with long ago.
There have been some who have feared the WCMU acquisition of WFUM was motivated less by a sense of wanting to serve the Flint community than by a desire to "carpetbag" the larger Flint audience in order to get as much money out of it as possible. What I saw last night, combined with reports I've heard that the only additional staff WCMU is planning to hire will be underwriting salespeople for the Flint market does little to calm those fears.
If WCMU wanted to impress the Flint community, they should have aired the State of the Union address live and in full HD.
But airing a technically substandard pledge show instead? I'm unimpressed.
Crap.
I made no secret of the fact that I didn't care much for President GW Bush. In fact, about the only thing he proposed that I liked was Project Constellation: the NASA program to return to the moon and possibly, one day, to Mars.
Now, however, there are reports that President Obama is ending Project Constellation.
That sucks.
I had so been looking forward to the return of humanity to the moon and beyond and I had been following every development in the Ares program that was to have been the next step in that process.
I'm sure it will happen eventually and I plan to follow it... but if I want to keep track of the transmissions between these new moonwalkers and the Earth, I will likely need to learn Chinese.
Whatever happened to the daring vision of Kennedy and LBJ? It seems nowadays whenever a Democrat gets into office they soon turn into "Republican-lite". We have billions with which to bail out Wall Street, but nothing for bold exploration of worlds beyond out own.
America is turning into a second-rate nation. Some people don't like to hear that, but "facts is facts".
I'm afraid Obama's decision is short-sighted and part of the "legumocracy" that is taking control of everything.
Now, however, there are reports that President Obama is ending Project Constellation.
That sucks.
I had so been looking forward to the return of humanity to the moon and beyond and I had been following every development in the Ares program that was to have been the next step in that process.
I'm sure it will happen eventually and I plan to follow it... but if I want to keep track of the transmissions between these new moonwalkers and the Earth, I will likely need to learn Chinese.
Whatever happened to the daring vision of Kennedy and LBJ? It seems nowadays whenever a Democrat gets into office they soon turn into "Republican-lite". We have billions with which to bail out Wall Street, but nothing for bold exploration of worlds beyond out own.
America is turning into a second-rate nation. Some people don't like to hear that, but "facts is facts".
I'm afraid Obama's decision is short-sighted and part of the "legumocracy" that is taking control of everything.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Unemployment is Hard Work!
Silly me! I began my new experience as an unemployed leech on society thinking I'd be sleeping in and lounging around all day. No such luck.
Today, in fact, I had to wake up even earlier than I had to when I was working. I took the kids to the dentist, dropped them off at school, went to the bank, stopped by the Secretary of State office, picked up some books for my daughter at the library and went to my (former) workplace to fill out some paperwork.
I came home, did my daily job search, called the doctor, walked the dog, did some dusting, helped my daughter study for a test and cooked dinner. Then, I had to go to the local supermarket to pick up a prescription and a couple gallons of milk.
I hope I find a job soon... so I can relax!
Today, in fact, I had to wake up even earlier than I had to when I was working. I took the kids to the dentist, dropped them off at school, went to the bank, stopped by the Secretary of State office, picked up some books for my daughter at the library and went to my (former) workplace to fill out some paperwork.
I came home, did my daily job search, called the doctor, walked the dog, did some dusting, helped my daughter study for a test and cooked dinner. Then, I had to go to the local supermarket to pick up a prescription and a couple gallons of milk.
I hope I find a job soon... so I can relax!
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Wifelogic
I try to be a good husband and help out around the house. I even do a good share of the dusting, employing one o'those Swiffer duster thingies.
So when I'm done dusting for the week, there are two possibilities. Either the Swiffer thingie is covered in an ugly coat of dust or it isn't.
One time, when it was especially dusty, my wife said "You must not have been dusting very well or the Swiffer wouldn't have so much dust on it."
A few weeks later, the Swiffer wasn't so dusty. My wife's comment? "Why is the Swiffer so clean? Aren't you dusting?"
So... if the Swiffer is dirty, it's because I screwed up and let things get too dirty. If the Swiffer is clean, however, it's because I screwed up and didn't dust well enough.
And people wonder why I no longer give a shit what they think about me. :-)
So when I'm done dusting for the week, there are two possibilities. Either the Swiffer thingie is covered in an ugly coat of dust or it isn't.
One time, when it was especially dusty, my wife said "You must not have been dusting very well or the Swiffer wouldn't have so much dust on it."
A few weeks later, the Swiffer wasn't so dusty. My wife's comment? "Why is the Swiffer so clean? Aren't you dusting?"
So... if the Swiffer is dirty, it's because I screwed up and let things get too dirty. If the Swiffer is clean, however, it's because I screwed up and didn't dust well enough.
And people wonder why I no longer give a shit what they think about me. :-)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Paid Vacation
From now until Jan. 29, I'm getting paid to sit around at home. Not that I'm complaining. One beneficiary of this new arrangement is Lily, our sweet but brain-damaged Maltipoo. (Actually, she's not totally stupid... when it comes to devising ways to scrounge food from family members, she's a genius.)
Now, since I'm home during the day, I no longer have the guilt of putting her into her cage for a few hours between the time I leave for work and when the kids get home from school. Now, instead of her laying around in the cage all morning, she can now lay around outside the cage all morning!
I do make sure to take her for a morning walk, which is actually nice (and will become more so as the weather warms). I figure I should be nice to her. Evolution being what it is, her descendents could morph into towering intelligent carnivores called Megapoos which will usurp primates as the dominant lifeforms on the planet. Hopefully, if I'm nice to Lily, her descendants will be nice to my descendants and let them live. A long shot, I admit, but one can never be too careful.
In other news, I did some cooking today. Baked ravioli. Leanne seemed genuinely pleased to come home to the smell of a home-cooked meal. Somehow, I even managed to do a good job of it. Perhaps I'll survive unemployment after all...
Now, since I'm home during the day, I no longer have the guilt of putting her into her cage for a few hours between the time I leave for work and when the kids get home from school. Now, instead of her laying around in the cage all morning, she can now lay around outside the cage all morning!
I do make sure to take her for a morning walk, which is actually nice (and will become more so as the weather warms). I figure I should be nice to her. Evolution being what it is, her descendents could morph into towering intelligent carnivores called Megapoos which will usurp primates as the dominant lifeforms on the planet. Hopefully, if I'm nice to Lily, her descendants will be nice to my descendants and let them live. A long shot, I admit, but one can never be too careful.
In other news, I did some cooking today. Baked ravioli. Leanne seemed genuinely pleased to come home to the smell of a home-cooked meal. Somehow, I even managed to do a good job of it. Perhaps I'll survive unemployment after all...
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A Fond Farewell
This morning, I posted this message to "PBS Connect", a forum for public broadcasters. I am posting it here as well since it sums up my feelings on this strange, emotional day...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
TO MY FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES IN PUBLIC TELEVISION
After 26 years working here, today is my final day at WFUM. As some of you may have read, this departure isn't exactly voluntary. The University of Michigan has decided to suspend operation of the station citing financial concerns.
I will spend much of today packing away the remaining items in my office. The final item I will pack will also be my most treasured: a copy of the book "Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control" autographed by it's author, Fred W. Friendly. This book was given to me several years ago by my good friend, boss, co-worker and mentor Jim Gaver upon his retirement. I know this book meant as much to him as it does now to me, which is why I was so moved and honored when he passed it along.
For those of you who are perhaps not familiar with the aforementioned book, it is a chronicle of the author's time in commercial broadcasting, his eventual disillusion with it and the statement of his vision for a non-commercial television service that would eventually become public television. Although the book was written in the 1960's, the arguments it makes for the value of public broadcasting are, I think, as valid now as they ever have been. If I were the Supreme Ruler of Public Broadcasting, I would make this book mandatory reading for all PTV employees. (That and "Rich Media, Poor Democracy" by Robert W. McChesney.)
I feel I have a lot in common with that copy of Mr. Friendly's book. Our outer covers are a bit worse for wear, but inside we're still as full of idealism as ever.
During my time in Public Television, I have had the good fortune to work with a great number of amazing, hard working and talented individuals. I have worked here for so long and I have met and worked with so many fantastic individuals I cannot possibly list them all. I would, however, like to mention a representative few. First of all, the aforementioned Jim Gaver, who inspired me with the idealism, knowledge and desire to work in this wonderful field. My Traffic pals Marge Mooney at WKAR, Chris Fleming at WDCQ, Donna Deeb at WGVU, Tania Schripsema at WCMU and Suze Kanack at Wyoming Public Television. I also would like to thank Carrie Corbin at WGVU for her honesty, support and information. I also have been proud and privileged to work with Kirk Lawrence, George Corba and Mark Brown, three engineers who share qualities seldom found together in a single person: top-rate technical competence and genuine human warmth. Finally, I would like to thank my assistant and hard-working "partner in crime", Quentin Dahl for his tireless efforts in fixing my more-frequent-than-I'd-like-to-admit mistakes and his willingness to put in an extra effort in all he does. Working with all of you has been a highlight not only of my professional but also my personal life.
And my final words to my friends and soon-to-be-former colleagues who still have the opportunity to serve your communities via public broadcasting: NEVER forget how important your work is! What you do is valuable and needed in your communities. Always bear that in mind! I know from personal experience that sometimes when you're in the second week of a caffeine-fueled slog of a pledge drive you wonder why you do this, but then you get - for example - an emotional phone call from a viewer recently diagnosed with cancer who received comfort and information from a documentary you just aired. Or you read an article on a successful local artist who was inspired to pick up her brushes by painting shows on public television. (Both true stories.) That's when you realize what public broadcasting is really all about. Public broadcasting isn't about ratings. It's about people. It's about ideas. It's about knowledge and art and enlightening discussions and quality entertainment. Just forget what some pundits and bean counters may say. The work you do is still vital and important. It not only should continue; it should expand. What public broadcasting has achieved in the past decades has been amazing, but it is nowhere near what its potential could be if its true value were recognized and funded accordingly.
So now I bid you all a fond farewell. I leave here for an uncertain future, trying to find a job in the middle of a recession in the metropolitan area Money Magazine ranked as the worst in the nation in which to find employment.
But if, somehow, that future should again include a position in public broadcasting, I promise that the first thing I do will be to unpack and place proudly on the highest shelf in my new office my copy of "Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control".
So ciao, all! I'm off to make lemonade!
-John Vamossy
WFUM, Flint MI
After 26 years working here, today is my final day at WFUM. As some of you may have read, this departure isn't exactly voluntary. The University of Michigan has decided to suspend operation of the station citing financial concerns.
I will spend much of today packing away the remaining items in my office. The final item I will pack will also be my most treasured: a copy of the book "Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control" autographed by it's author, Fred W. Friendly. This book was given to me several years ago by my good friend, boss, co-worker and mentor Jim Gaver upon his retirement. I know this book meant as much to him as it does now to me, which is why I was so moved and honored when he passed it along.
For those of you who are perhaps not familiar with the aforementioned book, it is a chronicle of the author's time in commercial broadcasting, his eventual disillusion with it and the statement of his vision for a non-commercial television service that would eventually become public television. Although the book was written in the 1960's, the arguments it makes for the value of public broadcasting are, I think, as valid now as they ever have been. If I were the Supreme Ruler of Public Broadcasting, I would make this book mandatory reading for all PTV employees. (That and "Rich Media, Poor Democracy" by Robert W. McChesney.)
I feel I have a lot in common with that copy of Mr. Friendly's book. Our outer covers are a bit worse for wear, but inside we're still as full of idealism as ever.
During my time in Public Television, I have had the good fortune to work with a great number of amazing, hard working and talented individuals. I have worked here for so long and I have met and worked with so many fantastic individuals I cannot possibly list them all. I would, however, like to mention a representative few. First of all, the aforementioned Jim Gaver, who inspired me with the idealism, knowledge and desire to work in this wonderful field. My Traffic pals Marge Mooney at WKAR, Chris Fleming at WDCQ, Donna Deeb at WGVU, Tania Schripsema at WCMU and Suze Kanack at Wyoming Public Television. I also would like to thank Carrie Corbin at WGVU for her honesty, support and information. I also have been proud and privileged to work with Kirk Lawrence, George Corba and Mark Brown, three engineers who share qualities seldom found together in a single person: top-rate technical competence and genuine human warmth. Finally, I would like to thank my assistant and hard-working "partner in crime", Quentin Dahl for his tireless efforts in fixing my more-frequent-than-I'd-like-to-admit mistakes and his willingness to put in an extra effort in all he does. Working with all of you has been a highlight not only of my professional but also my personal life.
And my final words to my friends and soon-to-be-former colleagues who still have the opportunity to serve your communities via public broadcasting: NEVER forget how important your work is! What you do is valuable and needed in your communities. Always bear that in mind! I know from personal experience that sometimes when you're in the second week of a caffeine-fueled slog of a pledge drive you wonder why you do this, but then you get - for example - an emotional phone call from a viewer recently diagnosed with cancer who received comfort and information from a documentary you just aired. Or you read an article on a successful local artist who was inspired to pick up her brushes by painting shows on public television. (Both true stories.) That's when you realize what public broadcasting is really all about. Public broadcasting isn't about ratings. It's about people. It's about ideas. It's about knowledge and art and enlightening discussions and quality entertainment. Just forget what some pundits and bean counters may say. The work you do is still vital and important. It not only should continue; it should expand. What public broadcasting has achieved in the past decades has been amazing, but it is nowhere near what its potential could be if its true value were recognized and funded accordingly.
So now I bid you all a fond farewell. I leave here for an uncertain future, trying to find a job in the middle of a recession in the metropolitan area Money Magazine ranked as the worst in the nation in which to find employment.
But if, somehow, that future should again include a position in public broadcasting, I promise that the first thing I do will be to unpack and place proudly on the highest shelf in my new office my copy of "Due to Circumstances Beyond Our Control".
So ciao, all! I'm off to make lemonade!
-John Vamossy
WFUM, Flint MI
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